Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Pesticide ban now law..Congrats Ontario!

Pesticide ban now law

HEALTH: One set of rules in Ontario

Posted By SUN MEDIA

Posted 8 hours ago

Homeowners can still buy pesticides to control wasps, mosquitoes, fleas on pets, house pests or plants that are poisonous to the touch like poison ivy.

But Ontario's ban outlaws the cosmetic use of about 250 products on lawns, parks, gardens and schoolyards.

Banned pesticides still stored in homes should be taken to local municipal hazardous or special waste collection sites for disposal, rather than poured down drains, officials say.

One pesticide manufacturer has challenged the right of provinces to ban its product.

Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen said yesterday that he's not worried about the looming NAFTA battle.

"We think we're doing absolutely the right thing banning pesticides from our lawns and gardens," Gerretsen said. "I'm not deterred by the fact that a large chemical company has taken us to task."

The provincial pesticide ban takes the place of any existing municipal pesticide ban, providing one set of rules across Ontario.

Homeowners can use biopesticides without running afoul of the law.

The ministry has indicated that enforcement of the ban will begin with "education and outreach" but for a first offence an individual convicted under the act could be fined up to $20,000 and a corporation up to $100,000.

TORONTO — Ontario will enact the toughest rules in Canada when its pesticide ban takes effect Wednesday, a move that could land the province in the legal crosshairs of an international trade dispute.

Ontario is joining Quebec in restricting the use of pesticides, but its rules go further by prohibiting the sale and cosmetic use of more than 80 ingredients and 250 products, with few exceptions, experts say.

Other provinces are considering similar restrictions to protect the environment and public health, including British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, said Lisa Gue of the David Suzuki Foundation.

Science hasn't yet proven what effect, if any, pesticides have on our health, but given the risks, governments must err on the side of caution, Gue said from Ottawa.

"The lack of scientific certainty cannot be an excuse to delay action to protect health and the environment," she said.

"And that's exactly what Quebec, and now Ontario, have done."

Both provinces have even banned weed killer 2,4-D even though it has been deemed safe by Health Canada - a move that sparked a NAFTA challenge of Quebec's ban.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, which manufactures 2,4-D, has decided to sue the federal government and seek $2 million in damages, arguing that Quebec's rules violate Canada's trade obligations because it prohibits a product without any scientific basis.

The company wouldn't say whether it will go after Ontario's ban as well.

"Our legal action is focused solely on Quebec at this time, and I won't speculate on any other action that we might take in Canada," said spokeswoman Brenda Harris.

"What I do think is important is that when provinces or jurisdictions are considering these types of things, that they really look closely at science, and making sure that science is part of the process."

Ontario's environment minister said he isn't worried by the potential threat of a lawsuit.

"We think we're doing absolutely the right thing by banning pesticides from our laws and gardens, and we'll have to wait and see what the courts say about that," said John Gerretsen.

"But I'm quite confident that they will uphold the right of Ontario to take this kind of an action."

Experts, such as the Ontario College of Family Physicians, have warned that the long-term effects of exposure to pesticides can be devastating, especially to pregnant women and children.

Ecorazzi - Ithaca,NY,USATake the organizers of MACA (The Mid America CropLife Association) who recently sent a letter to the Obama family urging them to consider using pesticides... See all stories on this topic

Spray woes: Province falling down on monitoring pesticidesThe Telegram (St. John's)- Final- 10-01-2002- 253 wordsJudie Squires -environment to become poisoned? A temporary ban on all residential pesticides has to be put into place, to protect us, our wildlife and our environment as a whole. Judie SquiresParadise…

Woman doesn't expect cosmetic pesticide ban any time soonThe Western Star (Corner Brook)- 08-30-2004- 712 wordsStokes Sullivan, Deana -Despite increased awareness about adverse health effects from pesticides, Judie Squires, a member of the Pesticide Working Group of Newfoundland and Labrador, isn't optimistic that the province will ban the…

Province lagging behind in pesticide controlThe Telegram (St. John's)- 09-04-2005- 496 wordsSquires, Judie -it to do is to prohibit the cosmetic use of synthetic pesticides altogether in order to protect our citizens and the environment. Judie Squires writes from Portugal Cove-St. Philip's…

Delayed pesticide laws 'disappointing'The Telegram (St. John's)- 06-24-2006- 833 wordsDEANA STOKES SULLIVAN -at the end of this year. These products will only be sold to certified dealers. Judie Squires, secretary of the newly formed Northeast Avalon Group of the Sierra Club, isn't…